Uncovering the Hidden Potential in Your Home

Not long ago, I went on a mission… more of a home improvement quest really, a search and rescue operation in my basement.  With the doors wide open venting fresh air, my heavy-duty gloves pulled on and an armload full of old rags, I went in search of some hidden beauty I knew existed within the walls of my own home.

This project unfolded following a nice conversation with a previous owner of our residence.  She mentioned that the basement walls originally had hand-painted murals around the perimeter walls, but with time, they had been painted over.

How exciting!  I love a good mystery, but with my limited skills, I had no clue where to start.  My detective work began and what better place to explore than The Old House New House Home Show?  I shared my discovery with long-standing participant, Maury Garvey, The Painting Craftsman.  He inspired my reconnaissance mission by explaining that the latex paint on the surface could be chemically removed, leaving the oil-based murals intact.  

I checked in with my handyman, whom I also initially connected with at The Old House New House Home Show.  He explained the products to use, where to find them and how to dispose of the fume-filled rags upon completion.  The pace is tedious, tragically slow even, but little by little I am finding a hidden treasure.

Now I know that not everyone is as enthused and enthralled as I am about unearthing secret hunting and sport-themed murals in their basements.  I’m not even sure that I’m going to like these murals once they’re uncovered.  After all, someone did decide to paint over them.  My point is that The Old House New House Home Show provides fertile ground for sparking ideas on how to uncover the hidden potential in any home.

With 300 award-winning contractors, creative craftsmen, select remodelers and leading brands participating, and new trends, cutting-edge styles and savvy solutions swirling about, you are bound to have an abundance of ideas on how to transform your living space.  Share ideas with the experts on hand.  Investigate options and brainstorm solutions with the experienced experts participating.  Dig in to the indispensible knowledge on hand.  Discover illuminating ideas and unfurl your own treasure map on how to make your living space more comfortable, cozy, flowing and functional.

Article submitted by Event Manager, Laura Kennedy McNamara, who is lovingly fixing up her west suburban older home one project at a time.

Palettes, Paint and Professionalism - A Minute with Maury Garvey, the Painting Craftsman

For over thirty years, Maury Garvey has been a vital participant in The Old House New House Home Show, sharing and showcasing his talents as a decorative artist.  An expert in the use of many design techniques and paint color applications, Maury has a whole-hearted zeal for his craft.  Event Manager, Laura McNamara, interviews this mindful, inspiring and exuberant exhibitor.

How did you get started in this line of work?

I grew up in Oak Park and in the 1970’s I employed myself as a painter throughout high school and college. As I developed my craft, I gave away a second or third color free, to get jobs painting the exteriors of our neighborhood’s Victorian homes. The demand for my multi-colored painting was great and I developed my talent in designing color combinations.  In my early years of creating Painted Ladies it was easy to walk through the neighborhood and know the homes I had painted.

What are your favorite tools to us in your craft?

There are two kinds of tools to use in every work project: physical tools and mental ones.  It is the good use of both that keeps productivity high enough for something artistic to be expressed.  The personal challenge in business is being able to make real what I envision in my mind at a reasonable cost.  I have always been thankful for the people that have saved some money beyond what is necessary for survival.  Centuries ago, it was mostly the kings and princes, the governors that had the savings to hire crafts-persons.  Today, many people have generated enough wealth and savings to be patrons of the arts.

Can you share some tips on color theory?

When using color as part of decoration, I want to use the complete color spectrum in any color scheme.  This is easy to do because every color can be created through some combination of red, yellow and blue.  Even a two color scheme can cover the full color spectrum: for example, a reddish color with a greenish one or a blue color would work well with orange. 

How do you define your signature style?

When I work with multiple colors, inside or outside, I want to layer the colors in a sequence, such as, from lighter to darker or from subtle to bold.  My rule is: “Accent nothing in particular and everything in general.”  In other words, I want the space, room or house to be taken as a whole where any accented features subtly fit.

What tips from the trade can you share with our homeowners?

Any interior room wall color can be enhanced by adding a few drops of its opposite color to ceiling white. 

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

My best work, as a painting contractor, is intended to provide more than a protective coating to a wall or other surface: I also want to create something pleasing to behold.  Most of my clients are also interested in something beyond just presentable surfaces.  They are interested in living in an attractive space - a place that feels like a home - which is an inviting and pleasant place to be in. 

How has your business changed over the years?

In the early 1980s, we did our first experimenting with lye based strippers to remove paint. It developed into a cost effective method that was not so environmentally friendly. Around 1990, I began utilizing other paint strippers that were less toxic.  They were much more expensive to use, but they eventually made real that near ideal surface on which to paint.  The paint coatings have improved significantly over the years.

Can you share any industry insights or professional pointers?

Sometimes a craftsperson’s art is expressed in design or style and sometimes it is expressed in the care of a job well done.  To increase the quality of our work and to decrease the cost of its long term maintenance, we have developed preparation techniques that allow the paint we apply to last as long as possible.  The most common problem causing paint failure is the thick, “alligatored” paint under the new coating.  Whether inside or outside, at some point, the old paint must be removed.  Quality paint, properly applied, should last beyond ten years; and I now have examples past fifteen years.  Not every surface will last that long but many will.  Once a house is painted well, it becomes a matter of maintaining it properly – touch up what needs doing and leave the rest.  

Do you have any advice for homeowners attending this event?

As you walk through the Old House New House show, you have the opportunity to meet some real crafts-persons who truly enjoy their work.  Many exhibitors have been here numerous years, like I have.  Ask us questions.  We have knowledge to share with you and we like to talk about what we do best.

Maury Garvey is an award-winning decorative artist and the owner of The Painting Craftsman. He specializes in painted ladies, historic homes, interior/exterior painting and color consultations.   For more information visit Booth #1000 in the Ballroom or www.thepaintingcraftsman.com.